qǔ piào: 取票 - To Pick Up Tickets, To Collect Tickets

Keywords: qu piao, 取票, pick up tickets in China, collect tickets, get tickets, how to get train tickets in China, Chinese for ticket collection, movie ticket pickup, retrieve tickets

Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 取票 (qǔ piào), meaning “to pick up or collect tickets.” This guide is perfect for anyone traveling or living in China who needs to navigate train stations, movie theaters, or event venues. Understand the crucial difference between buying tickets (买票) and collecting them (取票), and get practical example sentences, cultural insights, and tips to make your experience smooth and easy.

Pinyin (with tone marks): qǔ piào

Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object)

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To collect or retrieve tickets that have been previously booked or purchased.

In a Nutshell: 取票 (qǔ piào) is the physical act of getting your tickets after you've already paid for them, usually online. Imagine you've booked a high-speed train ticket on an app. The final step before you can board is going to the station counter or a machine to get the physical ticket. That specific action of retrieval is 取票. It separates the moment of purchase from the moment of collection.

取 (qǔ): Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) taking an ear (耳). In ancient warfare, taking an enemy's ear was proof of a kill. This evolved into the general, and less gruesome, meaning of “to take,” “to get,” “to fetch,” or “to retrieve.”

票 (piào): This character represents a slip of paper or a voucher, like a ticket that might flutter in the wind. The bottom part (示) is related to the idea of “showing” or “presenting,” as a ticket is presented for entry.

Together, 取票 (qǔ piào) literally means “to take a ticket,” perfectly describing the modern action of retrieving a pre-purchased ticket or voucher.

In modern China, with the explosion of e-commerce and booking apps (like Ctrip/Trip.com, 12306 for trains, or 猫眼 for movies), 取票 has become a routine and essential part of daily life. The process standardizes ticket handling for the world's largest population, ensuring order and verification.

A key cultural difference compared to the West is the continued reliance on and importance of physical tickets, especially for the railway system. While mobile e-tickets are becoming universal in the US and Europe, in China, you often still need to 取票 to get a physical paper ticket to pass through the train station gates. For foreigners without a Chinese ID card (身份证), this is almost always a required step, as automated gates are linked to the Chinese ID system.

The experience of lining up at the 取票窗口 (qǔ piào chuāngkǒu), or ticket collection window, is a shared cultural touchstone. While automated kiosks have reduced wait times, the distinction between a window for buying (售票) and a window for collecting (取票) remains an important piece of practical knowledge for navigating large public spaces like train stations.

At Train Stations: This is the most common context. After booking online, travelers must go to the station to 取票. Look for signs that say 取票 (qǔ piào) or 互联网取票 (hùliánwǎng qǔ piào), meaning “Internet Ticket Collection.” Foreigners will need their passport and the booking confirmation number (订单号).

At Movie Theaters (电影院): Almost all movie tickets are now bought on apps. Upon arrival at the theater, you find a small kiosk, scan a QR code from your phone, and the machine prints your physical tickets. This process is also called 取票.

At Airports (机场): While e-boarding passes are common, sometimes you need to go to the airline counter to 取 your boarding pass (登机牌), especially for international flights or if you have check-in luggage.

Formality: The term is neutral and standard. It's used in formal announcements (“请凭订单号取票” - Please collect tickets with your order number) and everyday conversation (“我得提前去取票” - I have to go pick up the tickets early).

Separable Verb: Remember that `取票` is a verb-object phrase and can be separated. For example: `取了票 (qǔ le piào)` (picked up the tickets), `取一张票 (qǔ yì zhāng piào)` (pick up one ticket).

买票 (mǎi piào) - To buy tickets. The action that usually happens before you can `取票`.

订票 (dìng piào) - To book/reserve tickets. Often used for booking in advance online or by phone.

售票处 (shòupiàochù) - Ticket office; the place where you `买票`.

自动取票机 (zìdòng qǔpiào jī) - Automatic ticket collection machine; a self-service kiosk to `取票`.

订单号 (dìngdān hào) - Order/Confirmation Number. The code you need to `取票`.

身份证 (shēnfènzhèng) - Chinese ID card. The primary document used by Chinese citizens to `取票` at machines.

护照 (hùzhào) - Passport. The document foreigners must use to `取票` at a manual window.

电子票 (diànzǐ piào) - E-ticket. The digital alternative that, when available, allows you to skip the `取票` process.

退票 (tuì piào) - To return a ticket; to get a refund for a ticket.

改签 (gǎiqiān) - To change a ticket (e.g., to a different time or date).